3rd XI Lose Out In Crucial Relegation Battle Match

By Will Ray

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The 3’s went looking to continue the good work the previous week this time against St Albans away.

Upon winning the toss and on a slightly warm (rather hot) day, Captain Codd decided to bowl first. This was met with much contempt from some of the fast bowlers (mainly Dave Beardsley). This decision would have been a great one had early edges and a drop from the captain himself been taken. At the first drinks break St Albans were 70-0. An inspirational change and fortunes turned, hertford built pressure in the next session with 3 wickets and some tight overs. The home side never really got away.

That pattern continued into the last period of the game with George Giblett impressing along with Dave and the ever reliable Ives and Thommo. St Albans finished 218-9 from there 50, a score which on a quick outfield with scoring opportunities was chase-able.

The reliable opening stand of Wood and Mccarroll strode out to set the platform for the chase. Both played smart cricket mixing good quick singles with quality boundary shots and many run threes. Wood fell just after the first drinks break 77-1 at that stage. Connor joined Mccarroll and continued in the same vain until Rob ran past the young off spinner and was bowled for 54 a really good innings, one of his best. From then Hertford could never really build any meaningful partnerships and slumped to 145-9, with Matt Ahl and Codd at the crease. The captain had seen enough and went on the offensive boundaries for 5 balls and singles off the last was the order of the day. That approach got Hertford to 181 before the innings came to a close, a respectable score but unfortunately not the desired result. Apologies to Matt Ahl for costing him a few runs in the effort to keep strike. The Ben Stokes approach worked up until a point.